Commissioners hear more protests on pot

The Pueblo County commissioners approved five new marijuana licenses or ownership transfers on Monday, all on unanimous 3-0 votes.

But they also were met with a groundswell of opposition, particularly from Pueblo West residents, who continue to view the concentration of marijuana licenses in their community as excessive.

Monday’s agenda began with an application to transfer the ownership of Colorado Cannabis Associates, doing business as The Spot, 748 E. Industrial Blvd. in Pueblo West, to Robert Lucero.

David Jimenez owned the business previously and operated it as Nature’s Remedy. But Lucero said ailing health has led Jimenez to sell his interest in the company.

At the same time, there are three potential violations under investigation by the state licensing board. Lucero said all three of those violations happened prior to his tenure, but the infractions run with the property, not the owner.

However, when folks stood up in opposition to the measure, it became a blanket opposition to all five agenda items, each of which had a connection to Pueblo West.

“We’re asking the board to cease and desist issuing any more marijuana licenses in Pueblo County,” said Paula McPheeters, who was joined by six others in protesting the proliferation of marijuana in Pueblo West.

Speakers argued that the community’s concerns aren’t being heard nor is it being adequately informed of new licenses or the county’s overall plan for economic development and how weed fits into all of that.

Jerry Martin and Judy Leonard, both members of the Pueblo West Metropolitan District Board of Directors, asked the commissioners to consider limiting the pot licenses to what’s in Pueblo West right now.

Both said they were speaking as individuals and were not there representing the metro board.

Another applicant, Shawn Honaker, said he wants to grow plants on a 1-acre farm off Siloam Road, but he’s also applied for a license to produce marijuana-infused products at a location in Pueblo West.

Honaker claimed he has no intention to operate in Pueblo West, but the application was necessary to speed the process and get his plants in the ground in time for a fall harvest.

But Honaker was confronted with questions by his neighbors on Siloam Road about security and water use. The neighbors also said they didn’t feel like they were given adequate notice of his plans.

Honaker said he intends to haul water and there is a well on the property that’s deep enough to draw water from beneath the neighbors’ aquifers.

In response to some of the community concerns, the commissioners said that it seems like a lot of marijuana businesses are opening in Pueblo West, but that the county still has a limit to 10 recreational retail stores in all of Pueblo County this year.

It’s just that there are different types of licenses, so it seems like Pueblo West is saturated, they said.

But saturation is bound to happen as well, and when it does, the market will correct itself and some of these businesses won’t be around anymore, said Commissioner Liane “Buffie” McFadyen.

In many respects, the commissioners’ hands were tied by the land use code and regulations set for the industry, they said.

Unlike liquor licenses, there is no language that allows commissioners to weigh the needs or desires of a neighborhood.

And while opposition is emerging, the commissioners said they still feel like there’s a mandate from the citizens of the county, based on their votes to allow recreational pot use, to consider these licenses.

Still, Commissioner Terry Hart asked County Attorney Greg Styduhar to prepare a brief on what they can and can’t do, based on the law.

“We have citizens coming before us and they’re anxious and they’re asking if we can shut the door in some fashion and I don’t know that legally we can,” Hart said.